Doomed Confessionary: Peter, Zigor & Gus (Thorndale)
Established in the creative crucible of 2021, Thorndale emerged as a dynamic force from the heart of the Netherlands. Comprising seasoned musicians, Thorndale channels their collective experience into a debut. The raw energy of their post-covid formation year pulses through every riff, creating a contemporary and timeless sound that speaks to and reminds us of humanity’s accursed frailty.
Originally global and now based in the Netherlands, Thorndale is ready to share their first musical creation with the world. With anticipation building and the debut on the horizon, this is just the beginning for Thorndale. Get ready to witness them making their mark in the metal scene!
Thorndale’s debut full-length album »Lightning Spawn« will see the light on February 23rd, 2024. Mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö (Katatonia, Opeth, Bloodbath) at Unisound. Cover artwork by Roberto Bordin – Bunker Artworks (Katatonia, My Dying Bride).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Peter: This whole thing was born after Zigor reached out to me via email asking if I’d be interested in writing some Sabbath-style metal with him. We don’t even live on the same continent, but we started exchanging ideas and ended up with the material that will be released on “Lightning Spawn”. We’re all participating in this because we want to make great heavy music. It’s a beautiful thing.
Zigor: Funny how things work, we’re now a Netherlands based band and much closer geographically since Gus and I moved to Europe a year and half ago. I’ve recruited a number of top Dutch musos to bring Thorndale on the road like Maarten Junschläger of Embers of Oblivion fame and others I can’t mention just yet. All shall be revealed soon.
Gus: Thorndale is an idea Zigor and I cooked up a few years back. We’re both hardcore Sabbath and Dio fans. We dropped a record a couple of years ago with our other band, Adarrak. While hustling for that one, Zigor threw a bunch of songs he did with Peter, my way. I wasn’t sure if I could slide my vocals in because I’m used to yelling or growling, but Zigor was very encouraging and pushed me to give it a shot. We recorded all vocals in Singapore with a Finnish friend who is an amazing producer and I am really happy with the vocals we came up with.
What was the biggest challenge for the band this year?
Zigor: Both Gus and I moved halfway across the World so we had to deal with other priorities in the meantime which sort of slowed down the debut album release
Peter: We’re all just regular guys with other responsibilities in life, so we’ve had to coordinate around changing work schedules and family life. I think working digitally actually may have helped in this case.
Gus: I’m on the same page with Peter and Zigor. Making the move to another country and figuring out the whole family, work, and rock ‘n’ roll thing is not always easy. But, you know what? We managed to make it click. It took a bit more time than expected, but the final outcome is better than I expected.
What can you be most proud of this year?
Peter: I took a job teaching tradespeople this year (specifically Ironworkers), which has been a very fulfilling job for me.
Gus: Music-wise, I’ve been fairly busy this year. I laid down vocals for a couple of albums and started jamming with some guys here in Germany. So, keeping that music flame alive and well is something I am proud of. Stoked to say the least!
What was your biggest regret?
Zigor: yeah, I think I would’ve liked more sex this year. But wait, it was the same last year!
Peter: I wish I had written more music this year. It was definitely a “career year” for me, and I’m happy with how things went in that sense. Unfortunately that resulted in me not writing as much as I’d like.
Gus: Had big plans to play the guitar and bass more this year, but, well, life happened. And can we talk about the insane number of shows, tours, and festivals in Europe? It’s a heavy metal music paradise! Wish I had the time and cash to hit up all of ’em, but reality’s got its own agenda. The struggle is real.
What was the best concert/tour this year and why?
Peter: I’ve had the privilege of attending some incredible concerts this year. Eluveitie and Jinjer are 2 that come to mind right away. But there have been plenty more!
Gus: Karnivool in January was pure magic! Seriously, one of my top shows this year.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Peter: I mean… Mike Portnoy’s return to Dream Theater was a bit of a shock! Not that I thought it would never happen, but it seemed to come out of nowhere.
Gus: Sepultura’s announcement of a farewell tour in 2024? That was unexpected news.
Where can we see you live next year (concerts/tours)?
Zigor: There’s potential first gig around Den Haag early 2024 being lined up. Stay tuned! We’ve also had some interest from other local bands to gig together
What are your plans for the next year as a band? What do you personally want the most?
Zigor: We’ve actually been hard at work with the initial effort for our sophomore album. I can say we’re quite excited about it and we think you all will too. More will be revealed soon.
Peter: Adding to what Zigor said, I’m excited about working on new music. I was listening to our new demo material the other day, which has no vocals yet, and I remembered how much the »Lightning Spawn« tracks came to life when Gus put down his tracks. I can’t wait for the new songs to come to life as well.
Gus: I’m excited to dive into writing lyrics, vocal lines, and melodies for the fresh Thorndale stuff. Got a sneak peek of the new songs recently, and you can bet your bottom dollar it’s got Peter’s signature vibe. Excitement levels through the roof for crafting these new tunes and pushing »Lightning Spawn« out into the world next year.
Do you already know what you are doing on New Year’s Eve?
Zigor: NYE for me is back in the Netherlands for some bubbles and fireworks with my tribe.
Peter: I never make a huge deal of New Years. It will be nice to be off work, so I’ll hang out with my family and play some guitar.
Gus: Right there with Peter and Zigor. Going to soak in some quality time with the family and take a quick breather from the daily grind.
How can people best support your band?
Zigor: Your time to listen to the upcoming album is really all I can ask for. Once we get on the road, it’d be great to meet the lot of you!
Peter: Since we’re so new, the best thing you can do is share our music with your friends. Social media shares help a ton, we just want to get the word out to as many people as possible.
Gus: If you’re into some good ol’ pissed-off rock ‘n’ roll, give this record a click ( not a spin yet). Hit it up, share the love with your metal friends, and help us spread the word. Let’s crank it up together!
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Peter: Thank you for keeping heavy music alive!
Zigor: stay heavy and metal!
Gus: Stay safe out there and keep it metal!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well